knowles



- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. KNOWLES.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN MEASURE.

No. 269,213. Patented Dem-19,1882.

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(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2..

.J. A. KNOWLES.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN MEASURE.

No. 269,213 v i Patented Dec. 19, 1882.

' ATTORNEY (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' J, A. KNOWLES.

AUTOMATIG GRAIN MEASURE. N0. 269,213. Patented 1360.19;- 1882.

' WITNESSES:

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

JOHN A. KNOWLES, OF TOWANDA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ()NEHALF TO HENRY E. SIBLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC GRAIN-MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 269,213, dated December 19, 1882.

Application filed May .23, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. KNOWLES, of Towanda, in the county of McLean, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain- Measures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of- .a device embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the dotted line at a: of

Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a bottom view or plan of discharge-valves; Fig. 4, a top view or plan of the latch and catch arrangement; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical central section; Figs. 6 and 7, detail views, to be hereinafter referred to.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in automatic grain-measures, adapted for use in connection with thrashingmachines, elevators, or otherwise.

The object of my invention is to save all of the grain, measure it accurately, protect it from dirt, and save the labor of an attendant; and to this end the invention consists of an oscillating measure, divided into two equal compartments, supported upon pivots in a suit- 0 able frame, andprovided with an automatic valve arrangement at top and bottom.

It also consists of a receiving-hopper supported by the frame above the measure, and hinged at one end.

5 It further consists of a latch and catch arrangement,automatically operated by the hopper.

It finally consists in novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, all as will 40- be hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims hereto annexed.

In the drawings, A represents the oscillating measure, pivoted or journaled by the shaft a, and divided into two compartments, a a

5 by the partition a as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

B represents the receiving-hopper, hinged to the supporting-frame composed of the crosslegs 0 G,said hinges being placed at the lower edge or discharge end of the hopper, directly under the weight-sutmort I), from which the weight b is suspended.

E E represent a fixed lever-support, attached to the oscillating measure A, and carrying the latches c e.

F represents a curved support, connected to the frame 0, for supportinga correspondinglycurved metallic plate or bar, G, fastened to the under side thereof. This plate or bar is provided with a longitudinal slot, 9, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and which serves as a guide for the latches c e, and at the center of said slot 9 a suitable notch, f, is made in said plate or bar G for the reception of either one of said latches, and thereby serves as a catch.

H represents a lever having a double-hooked end, It, and which lever is pivoted to the hopper B, opposite the notchf,on the plate or bar G; and h h are springs which tend to hold the hooked lever at right angles to the end of said hopper.

f f are springs connected to the curved support F, and which serve to force or press either one of the latches c 0 into the notch f in plate or bar G when they come opposite said notch, the latches being hinged or pivoted at their lower ends, and supported by staples 9 above their hinged or pivotal points, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

I represents a pivoted valve, having wings I Z, in the upper portion of the measure A; and d (1, outlet or discharge valves connected to the bottom of the measure by hinges d It; represents a sliding bar, supported bythe staples p 19, (secured to the bottom edges of the bifurcated partition-boards 6d,) and which serves as a lock for the valves d d.

m is a lever pivotally connected at its inner end to the bar 76 at the point 0, and also to a connecting cross-bar, 0, of the said partitionboards a at the point 0 and W, a staple for supporting the outer end of the lever m and limiting its movement.

n n represent triangular cleats, secured to the under side of the valves d d, and which engage the rollers c 0', supported in theframe 3 O, as the measure is oscillated for the purpose of alternately closing said valves, all as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The operation of my improved device is as follows: When either of the compartments a a is placed in a position to receive the grain from the hopper-for instance, as shown in the drawings-the latch 6 will be in the notchfin the plate or bar G, and the hooked lever H It will be in the position shown in Fig. 4, while the hopper B will be in an inclined position, held by the weight Z1, and the valve cl closed and latched, as shown in Fig.3,with the cleat a pressing against the roller 0, as shown in Fig.2. The grain is now pouredinto the hopper B, and the valve aadjusts itself, as shown in Fig. 2; and when the compartment a 'is filled the grain accumulates in the hopper until its weight overbalanees the weight b, when the farther end of the hopper will settle down. The hooked lever H 71., being attachedto the hopper, pulls the latch 6 out of the notch fin plate or bar G, which releases the measure A, permitting it to swing to the left by the force of gravity, until the latch 0 takes the place of latch e in said notch f, as shown in Fig. 6, while the cleat n, pressing against or engaging the roller 0, closes the valve 61. The swinging lever m, striki g the shoulder m at the limit of notch m in cross-bar M of frame as the measure is oscillated, moves the sliding bar 7c, locking the valve 61, and releasing the valve (1, so that it will be automatically opened by the weight of the grain, which is then discharged therefrom.

I will now describe the operation of valve I. This valve is operated by the weight of the grain onlyviz., when therigh t-hand compartment a is filled, the valve is held in the position shown in Fig. 2, one wing, l, ot'said valve being held against the partition between the compartments by the pressure of the grain against it, until it is released by the discharge of the grain through the opening closed by the valve d, and as this does not occur until the measure has reached the limit of its swing toward the left hand, it follows that no grain can enter the empty compartment to until the filled compartment a? commences to discharge, thus preventing the surplus grain in the hopper from falling into the empty compartment and retarding the swinging movement of the measure.

It will be observed that when the lighthand bottom valve, (1, is in the position where it is released and is opened the lelt-hand wing, Z, is immediately under the hopper, and consequently when the pressure of the grain is removed from the right-hand wing, Z, the weight of the grain in the hopper swings the valve '5, so that the hopper communicates with the empty compartment a, and elosingthe other, the several parts occupying the positions Now the grain in the hopper immediately commences discharging into the empty compartment to,

and the weight b, overbalancing the empty hopper, raises it to its original position, and the hooked lever H it engages the latch c. When the left-hand compartment, a,is filled and the tion will be repeated.

The shaft or of the measure operates a register attached to the frame on the opposite end from the one shown in the drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an oscillating measure dividedinto two vertical compartments, and automatic receiving and discharge valves, a hinged hopper arranged above said measure, and intermediate connecting mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of an oscillating measure divided into two vertical compartments and provided with automatic receiving and discharging valves, a hinged and weighted receiving-hopper arranged over said measure, and intermediate connecting mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of an oscillating measure divided into two compartments and provided with automatic receiving and discharging valves, a hinged and weighted receivinghopper, and an automatic locking mechanism adapted to be operated by the movement of the hopper, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with a hinged and weighted receiving-hopper, of an oscillating measure divided into two compartments and having a receiving-valve, whereby, when one of its compartments is filled with grain and is oscillated by the weight of the grain, said measure is adapted to have one of its receiving-openings closed and the otheropened, substantially as specified.

5. The combination,

with an oscillating measure, having hinged discharge-valves, hav-- ing beveled blocks a a,secured to their under sides, of the rollers c c, for closing said valves alternately, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with an oscillating measure having hinged discharge-valves, of the rollers c c, for closing said valves alternately, and automatic mechanism adapted to alternately lock said valves when closed, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

7. The combination ofahinged and weighted rocking hopper, an oscillating measure arranged below said hopper and divided into two compartments, provided with a rocking valve and hinged discharge-valves alternately closed and locked by mechanism, substantially as herein shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of April, 1882.

JOHN A. KNO\VLES. 

